The Big ListenThere are tens of thousands of podcasts out there. So how do you know what to listen to? On The Big Listen — THE broadcast about podcasts from WAMU and NPR — host Lauren Ober introduces you to podcasts you might not have ever heard of, and gives you the inside scoop on shows you already love. Through interviews, listener recommendations, show snippets and more, The Big Listen helps you curate your perfect playlist.

The Big Listen

There are tens of thousands of podcasts out there. So how do you know what to listen to? On The Big Listen — THE broadcast about podcasts from WAMU and NPR — host Lauren Ober introduces you to podcasts you might not have ever heard of, and gives you the inside scoop on shows you already love. Through interviews, listener recommendations, show snippets and more, The Big Listen helps you curate your perfect playlist.More from The Big Listen »

Most Recent Episodes

Musicians Tegan and Sara are podcast obsessives. This episode, we take a peek at their extensive playlist and hear about their own idea for a podcast.
Pamela Littky
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Pamela Littky

May 24, 2018

Tegan & Sara, Podcast Super Fans (Encore)

May 24, 2018 • Musicians Tegan and Sara are podcast obsessives. This episode, we take a peek at their extensive playlist and hear about their own idea for a podcast. Also, the hosts of the LGBTQ show Nancy share their funny and tragic coming out stories. And the Pakistani-American host of Beginner walks us through all the things she never learned as a immigrant, like biking and swimming. Plus: saving podcasts for posterity at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

May 17, 2018

John Darnielle and Joseph Fink Only Listen To The Mountain Goats (Encore)

May 17, 2018 • The Mountain Goats' John Darnielle and Joseph Fink of Welcome To Night Vale talk about what it means to be a fan on I Only Listen To The Mountain Goats. Plus: Nicole Drespel mines your email InBox for comedy gold, a hotel with a radio studio in the lobby, and a podcast takes us turkey hunting.

John Darnielle and Joseph Fink Only Listen To The Mountain Goats (Encore)

We're celebrating Mother's Day with stories from all kinds of women — a single lesbian mother by choice (Not By Accident), a young woman who chose sterilization (Tie My Tubes) and a Korean mom raising a multi-racial daughter (Other: Mixed Race In America), among others. Plus, mom tributes from your favorite audio prod
Lauren Ober
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Lauren Ober

May 10, 2018

Mother's Day Extravaganza (Encore)

May 10, 2018 • We're celebrating Mother's Day with stories from all kinds of women — a single lesbian mother by choice (Not By Accident), a young woman who chose sterilization (Tie My Tubes) and a Korean mom raising a multi-racial daughter (Other: Mixed Race In America), among others. Plus, mom tributes from your favorite audio producers.

Mother's Day Extravaganza (Encore)

Nicole Byer has one very important question she wants answered: "Why won't you date me?"
Robyn Van Swank
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Robyn Van Swank

May 3, 2018

Nicole Byer Wants To Date You (Encore)

May 3, 2018 • Comedian Nicole Byer shares some of the tips she's learned from friends on her podcast Why Won't You Date Me. Reporter Dan Lamothe tells us about reading hundreds of letters from World War II, Heather Mizeur describes how she rebuilt her politics after losing an election, and Cristen Conger and Caroline Ervin define what being Unladylike means to them.

Nicole Byer Wants To Date You (Encore)

Ninety-five-year-old Norman Lear is one of the most prolific men in Hollywood.
Bret Hartman/Bret Hartman / TED
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Bret Hartman/Bret Hartman / TED

April 26, 2018

Norman Lear Is All Of The Above (Encore)

April 26, 2018 • Norman Lear's work in television and movies could fit every category, which might be why he calls his podcast All Of The Above. We also hear about the culinary delights of hotdish from Senator Heidi Heitkamp, explore the many facets of veterans with Battle Scars, and phone our rage into the For A Bad Time Call hotline.

Norman Lear Is All Of The Above (Encore)

Larry Wilmore is basically running Hollywood, but you wouldn't know it from his nice dad demeano
Peter Yang
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Peter Yang

April 19, 2018

Larry Wilmore Is Black On The Air (Encore)

April 19, 2018 • Larry Wilmore's got a new podcast, Black On The Air! Plus: the lowdown on a possible Powerline in New Hampshire, a Slow Burn with Leon Neyfakh about Watergate, and a new book from Bill McKibben.

April 12, 2018

Chris Gethard and the Art of Deep Listening (Encore)

April 12, 2018 • Chris Gethard describes how Beautiful/Anonymous satisfies his craving for human connection. Plus: therapy with Esther Perel, poetry with Versify, and a podcaster who invites strangers to his home.

Chris Gethard and the Art of Deep Listening (Encore)

Writer Jon Ronson has embedded himself with all types of groups at the fringes--most recently, porn performers.
Emli Bendixen/Emli Bendixen
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Emli Bendixen/Emli Bendixen

April 5, 2018

Jon Ronson Likes Porn (Stories) Encore

April 5, 2018 • Writer Jon Ronson traces The Butterfly Effect from the moment pirated porn became free on the web. Plus: The hosts of Terrestrial and Closer Than They Appear, and Jillian Bauer-Reese documents people in recovery with The Rooms Project.

March 29, 2018

John Darnielle and Joseph Fink Only Listen To The Mountain Goats

March 29, 2018 • The Mountain Goats' John Darnielle and Joseph Fink of Welcome To Night Vale talk about what it means to be a fan on I Only Listen To The Mountain Goats. Plus: Nicole Drespel mines your email InBox for comedy gold, a hotel with a radio studio in the lobby, and a podcast takes us turkey hunting.

John Darnielle and Joseph Fink Only Listen To The Mountain Goats

As a musician and a mom, Laura Veirs has to balance life on tour with school plays, parent-teacher conferences and runny noses.
Jason Quigley
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Jason Quigley

March 22, 2018

Laura Veirs On A Musical Motherhood

March 22, 2018 • Singer/songwriter Laura Veirs talks to other musicians about how they balance work with parenthood, Annie Gilbertson investigates an officer involved in multiple shootings in Repeat, and Kameel Stanley and Tim Lloyd remind St Louis, "We Live Here!"